Art Director salary in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Art Directors in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn a median of $110,180 a year ($52.97 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,140 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $114,850. Pay here is 20% lower than the California statewide median of $137,780. There are 0.19 art directors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $113,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for art directors in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,030 | $24.53 |
| 25th percentile | $87,370 | $42.01 |
| Median | $110,180 | $52.97 |
| 75th percentile | $132,910 | $63.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $185,140 | $89.01 |
| Average (mean) | $113,570 | $54.60 |
Half of art directors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,181.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,590.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,237.69 |
| Weekly | $2,118.85 |
| Hourly | $52.97 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $110,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Art Director salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $170,140 | 600 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $165,210 | 2,390 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $137,560 | 6,590 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $126,410 | 40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $126,050 | 630 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $123,420 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $121,920 | 100 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $109,500 | 50 |
| Fresno, CA | $109,420 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $106,390 | 310 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $104,360 | 320 |
Highest-paying states for art directors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $149,320 |
| California | $137,780 |
| New York | $137,320 |
| Oregon | $133,840 |
| New Hampshire | $132,000 |
| Vermont | $129,260 |
| New Jersey | $129,200 |
| Washington | $121,170 |
| Georgia | $110,430 |
| Minnesota | $109,700 |
See Art Director pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $75,750 | $36.42 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Interior Designer | $77,970 | $37.49 |
| Floral Designer | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $48,440 | — |
| Public Relations Specialist | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $33.12 |
| Editor | $81,330 | $39.10 |
| Photographer | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Writers and Authors | $107,700 | $51.78 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $55,290 | $26.58 |
| Technical Writer | $129,590 | $62.30 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $84,960 | $40.84 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a art director make in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The median salary for art directors in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area is $110,180 a year, or $52.97 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $185,140 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid art directors make in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
The top 10% of art directors in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area earn at least $185,140 a year. The top 25% earn $132,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for art directors in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,030 a year, and a quarter of art directors earn $87,370 or less.
How many art directors work in Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA?
About 40 art directors are employed in the Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.